Off the charts: extreme Australian summer heat

This report asks: How does climate change influence Australia’s temperature? How does climate change influence bushfires? Why are the current heat and bushfire conditions unusual? What impact does extreme heat have on Australians? And it outlines record-breaking temperatures across Australia in 2013.

It presents the following key messages: i) the length, extent and severity of the current heatwave are unprecedented in the measurement record; ii) although Australia has always had heatwaves, hot days and bushfires, climate change is increasing the risk of more frequent and longer heatwaves and more extreme hot days, as well as exacerbating bushfire conditions; iii) climate change has contributed to making the current extreme heat conditions and bushfires worse; iv) good community understanding of climate change risks is critical to ensure we take appropriate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to put measures in place to prepare for, and respond to, extreme weather.